Iran’s Larijani Congratulates Iraq on Mosul Liberation

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani congratulated the Iraqi nation and government on the liberation of Mosul from the hands of the Takfiri Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorists.

In a message to President of Iraq Fuad Masum on Sunday, the Iranian parliament speaker hailed the liberation of the Iraqi city from the occupation of the Daesh terrorist group after three years and underscored the importance of establishing sustained peace and security in the Arab country and the region.

He added that the “decisive” victory was achieved thanks to God’s blessings, the guidance of the country’s Marja's (religious leadership), sacrifices made by the Iraqi people and military forces, and the government’s constant efforts.

The Iranian official further described the recapture of the city as a major step toward the complete defeat of terrorists in the region.

Daesh militants made swift advances in northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014, after capturing swaths of northern Syria.

In a message to President of Iraq Fuad Masum on Sunday, the Iranian parliament speaker hailed the liberation of the Iraqi city from the occupation of the Daesh terrorist group after three years and underscored the importance of establishing sustained peace and security in the Arab country and the region.

He added that the victory was achieved thanks to God's blessings, the guidance of the country’s Marja's (religious leadership), sacrifices made by Iraqi people and military forces, and the government’s constant support.

The Iranian official further described the recapture of the city as a major step toward the complete defeat of terrorists in the region.

Daesh militants made swift advances in northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014, after capturing swaths of northern Syria.

However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the volunteer forces, who rushed to take arms after Ayatollah Sistani issued the fatwa calling for the fight against the militants, blunted the edge of Daesh offensive and forced the terrorist group to withdraw from much of the areas it had occupied.

Iraqi military forces on Thursday captured the Mosul mosque at the heart of the northern city, which Daesh had declared its de facto capital.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the liberation of the site of the symbolic al-Nuri Mosque in Old Mosul as “the declaration of the end of the statelet of Daesh.”

Iraqi authorities expect the long battle for Mosul to end in coming days as remaining Daesh militants are bottled up in just a handful of neighborhoods of the Old City.